Niko ignored Mallomor for the most part the rest of the day. He either painted on canvas or computer, or fished, sitting on the side of the boat, his feet dangling off the edge. He just liked his own comapany, and wasn't ready to trust Mallo yet.

Mallomor gave Niko his space, and hung out with Tsarina. She was good for pleasant, if one-sided conversation.

"So has Niko always been like this?"

Tsarina's dewy amber eyes gave him a blank stare. She then looked away.

"I see. I admire you for sticking by him."

Tsarina batted Mallomor's tail.

"Hey, stop that!" His tone was playful.

Tsarina walked away towards Niko on the deck. He had caught many fish, mostly cod. Mallomor picked one up from the bucket full of ice, admiring its gleaming scales. Its breathing was ragged, close to death.

Niko didn't even turn to face Mallomor.

"Hands off! Put it back in the bucket."

Mallomor dropped it back in the bucket. "That's some nice looking fish you've gotten."

"Dinner." Niko paused. "I heard that demons don't really need to eat unless they want to."

"That's true, and I don't like to eat fish."

Still not making eye contact, Niko asked him. "What do you like to eat?"

"Mallomars, moonpies, whoopie pies...just chocolate over marshmallow cream. I used to pay someone to smuggle them into hell for me!"

Niko chuckled, but he gave Mallomor a dirty look once he put a claw on his shoulder.

"Don't touch me unless I allow it." Niko slid Mallomor's claw off his shoulder.

"OK." Mallomor left.

Later, Mallomor found Niko walking towards the bathroom, his hands and shirt covered in blood.

Appearing in front of him. "Did you kill someone? Please don't say Tsarina!"

Startled, Niko looked down at his shirt and hands. "I was just gutting the fish in preparation for dinner."

Mallomor nodded, and disappeared.

At dinner, Mallomor watched Niko eat in silence. It was a bit tense, but it didn't bother Niko.

Niko got a call afterward, when he was cleaning the kitchen.

It was Otto, his nearest and dearest friend.

"Hey, Otto? Good thing you're here, I've got a bit of a demon problem..."